Zardari to get immunity from NRO as president
Monday, August 25, 2008
Viewpoint
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: Asif Ali Zardari as president of Pakistan? Is it unbelievable? Maybe as he is the one who is known more for the controversies surrounding him than anything else?
Asif Ali Zardari had not long ago declared in Lahore that a Salmaan Taseer like ‘Jiyala’ would soon be sitting in the presidency. On Saturday, the PPP announced the candidature of Asif Ali Zardari for the office of the president of Pakistan. It is really strange for many reasons.
One never knew that Zardari would ever like himself to be compared with Taseer but what is really worrying is the foreseeable changed role of the presidency in a purely civilian set-up. Perhaps we are heading towards an informal presidential form of government where powerful civilian president would be running the show through his handpicked prime minister, rubberstamp parliament and a well-controlled political party. Just ignore for a moment that former president Musharraf was a military general too; Zardari would be no different from his predecessor.
Forget about his tainted past and the NRO wonders. Also overlook his recent repeated promises on the judges’ issue and the subsequent breaches. But whether Zardari could stay neutral as head of the state being the symbol of the federation? Many would seriously doubt it.
As the indications are and according to his own statement, Salmaan Taseer-like Jiyala would be soon sitting in the presidency — a perfect replica of former president Musharraf, who was more behaving like head of the king’s party than head of the state. Certainly, we don’t learn lessons from our past; rather enjoy repeating it, no matter how others laugh at us.
People wish to see Pakistan growing as a democratic country but we are bent upon turning it into a laughing stock. Repeated rhetoric for the sovereignty of parliament and about the need to have a real parliamentary form of government in Pakistan with prime minister, cabinet and parliament enjoying all the powers instead of the president, are all set to evaporate in thin air. The Charter of Democracy and commitments made in it seem irrelevant. The presidential powers as envisaged in the much condemned 17th Amendment, including president’s powers to dissolve the National Assembly and dismiss the government, to make key appointments, including those of services chiefs and the chief of Army staff, are now unlikely to be surrendered by the future president.
During the last five months of the present regime, Zardari took one unpopular decision after another. He did not care about his fast declining popularity graph or the general disapproval of the party he was leading. He continued to grasp more and more powers. He made promises but used them to achieve the goal that he set for himself but perhaps shared with none.
Zardari reportedly told a British TV that political agreements were not words of the holy Qur’aan that could not be changed with the changing political scenario. This raises the question that what would be the value of constitutional oath he would take as president. There are also doubts that whether he would keep state secrets as president and uphold international agreements.
After one month, a powerful Asif Ali Zardari as President would be the absolute ruler of Pakistan, perhaps not much different from Musharraf. He would be in a position to outsmart his political opponents and get hold of Punjab. To regain the lost popularity he might announce restoration of the deposed judges too. The NRO would be no more an issue for Zardari because of the constitutional immunity available to a president.
Hence, the stage is being set for the same confrontational politics of 1980s and 1990s. Asif Zardari-led coalition of the PPP, the ANP and the JUI-F would be joined in by the MQM and possibly a forward bloc of the PML-Q.
I wonder if Asif Zardari thinks beyond the short-term gains. Perhaps he has no realisation that his latest decision is not encouraging for the country’s economy, for the peace and normalcy that is in dire need of the day, for future of the democracy and to face the multi-faceted challenges confronting Pakistan.
Within days of the departure of Musharraf, the people have stopped talking of ousted dictator. They are concerned about today and about tomorrow. Within five days of Musharraf’s ouster, we now have the worrying prospect of President Zardari. God bless Pakistan.
